DAKAR 2010 ARGENTINA-CHILE...Ford Raptor Sold by Metro Ford to Compete!

Metro Ford LM will participate indirectly in the DAKAR 2010 ARGENTINA-CHILE Race that will take place January 1-17. Javier Campillay, a native of Chile, purchased three Ford Raptors from us and will be driving one of them in the race.

The adventure began back in 1977, when Thierry Sabine got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally. Saved from the sands in extremis, he returned to France still in thrall to this landscape and promising himself he would share his fascination with as many people as possible. He proceeded to come up with a route starting in Europe, continuing to Algiers and crossing Agadez before eventually finishing at Dakar. The founder coined a motto for his inspiration: "A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind." Courtesy of his great conviction and that modicum of madness peculiar to all great ideas, the plan quickly became a reality. Since then, the Paris-Dakar, a unique event sparked by the spirit of adventure, open to all riders and carrying a message of friendship between all men, has never failed to challenge, surprise and excite. Over the course of almost thirty years, it has generated innumerable sporting and human stories.

In 2009 the 31^st edition of the Dakar, the first one in Latin-America, saw the victories of Marc Coma in the bike category, Josef Machacek in the quad category, Giniel De Villiers in the car category and Firdaus Kabirov in the truck category. In total, 113 bikers, 13 quad riders, 91 car teams and 54 truck teams finished the rally-raid, that was notably marked by the exceptional enthusiasm the Dakar generated amongst the crowds in Argentina and in Chile.

The Dakar is about dreams. It also makes use of its stature to develop initiatives to help peoples or territories in difficulty in the countries it visits. In partnership for the past several years with Dakar Actions in promoting environmental awareness in the Sahel, the rally has been collaborating for the past year with the Un Techo Para mi Pais foundation, which provides temporary housing for families struggling to reintegrate into society.

Etienne Lavigne presented the association with a check for $112, 000 during the 2009 edition. These funds financed lodging for 40 families in Chile and another 40 in Argentina. This year, the competitors, most notably the Chileans have joined Un Techo para mi pais in mass. To symbolise their involvement, 14 among them took part last week in a breakfast organised in a slum of Lo Barnecha, 20 kilometres from Santiago du Chile. For Francisco « Chaleco » López, Claudio Rodríguez, Francisco Vial, John McKendrick, Jorge and Juan Pablo Latrach, José Melo, Francisco and Ignacio Casale, Manuel Jamett, Fernando León, Javier Campillay and Rodrigo Andrés Caballero it was another opportunity to lend their support to the association and to relate their passion for the rally to the local children.

For the second consecutive year, the Dakar is welcomed in South America for a challenge of 9000 kilometres leading the riders and crews on the roads, the tracks, the mountains and the deserts of Argentina and Chile. From the 1st to the 17th of January, the competitors will fight it out on 14 stages: the loop to cover, anti-clockwise, will include a thorough visit of the Atacama Desert and its gigantic dunes. The white sand close to Fiambala or the grey one in the area of Nihuil will complete the spread of colours and the variety of difficulties all along the event.

At the end of the registration period, just a few days before the vehicles are welcomed to start the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on a boat leaving Le Havre, the list of competitors confirms the status of the Dakar: with 184 bikes and quads, 138 cars and 50 trucks, the race remains the most attractive in the world. The expected media coverage, with footage broadcasted in 189 countries provides an outstanding relay for the constructors, the partners and the countries involved. At the moment of launching the celebrations of the bicentenary of its two nations, Argentina and Chile will actually be represented three times more than last year with competitors able to create a surprise.

It’s probably in the bike class, where the field has already been transformed by the new regulation adopted, that a “native” rider could triumph. The Aprilia factory believes just as much in the future of the 450cc bikes than in the chances of Chilean Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez. Concerning the French, David Frétigné, 3rd last year on a 450cc Yamaha, or David Casteu who will launch the Sherco brand in the 450cc adventure, intend on being rivals for the winners of the last four editions, Marc Coma and Cyril Despres who will be riding with a bridle limiting the performances of their big cylinder KTMs. The 450cc machines developed by Honda and BMW will also be candidates for a place in the Top 10.

In the car class, the new situation should provide an intense confrontation. With more and more performing vehicles and two top quality recruits, Stéphane Peterhansel and Nani Roma, the BMW X-Raid team will show up with fine arguments against the title holders. The Volkswagen armada including the likes of Giniel De Villiers, Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al Attiyah, are forced to excellence. In the truck race, the Kamaz of Kabirov and Chagin will also have to keep a close eye on ambitious Ales Loprais, in his Czech Tatra truck.

Fotos en info de los nuevos Ford S-Max y Ford Galaxy 2010 » Coches 2.0

Fotos en info de los nuevos Ford S-Max y Ford Galaxy 2010 » Coches 2.0

Mustang Spellbinder Illusion in Las Vegas!

Ford Fusion: Motor Trend Car of the Year!

DETROIT — The 2010 Ford Fusion was named Motor Trend magazine's car of the year Tuesday, beating out the Toyota Prius, BMW 7-Series, Chevrolet Camaro and others in the closely watched competition.
It was yet another accolade for Ford Motor Co.'s midsize sedan, which got high reliability scores in the most recent rankings from Consumer Reports and was the top-selling car made by a Detroit automaker through October. U.S. Fusion sales were up 15 percent in the first 10 months of this year, to 148,045, despite a 25 percent drop in overall car sales.
Still, the mid-size Fusion continues to lag behind the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord — perennial leaders in the competitive U.S. mid-size market.
Motor Trend said the Fusion can compete with the Camry and Accord in performance, comfort and fuel efficiency. It praised Ford for offering several versions of the Fusion, including a fuel-efficient gas-electric hybrid and a sporty version with a V-6 engine.
"Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers," Motor Trend Editor in Chief Angus MacKenzie said in a statement.
Motor Trend considered 23 new or significantly refreshed vehicles. The Fusion, introduced in the 2006 model year, was redesigned for 2010 with a new lineup of engines and transmissions, new exterior and interior and new options, including the Sync entertainment system and a blind-spot warning system.
Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president of global product development, said the 2010 Fusion has a sportier look and better fuel economy than previous versions. It gets 34 miles per gallon on the highway when equipped with a four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The gas-electric hybrid version gets 41 miles per gallon in the city.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, Buick LaCrosse, Lexus HS 250h and Hyundai Genesis coupe were among the cars Motor Trend considered. The Fusion also beat out other Ford models, including the Mustang sports car and Taurus sedan.
It was the first time a Ford car had won since 2003, when the Ford Thunderbird got the honor, Kuzak said. Ford's 2009 F-150 was Motor Trend's truck of the year last fall. The Nissan GT-R was the car of the year for 2009.
"It reinforces the progress that we've made, particularly on the car side of the business," Kuzak told The Associated Press. "When people think of trucks they think Ford, but we needed to put Ford cars and crossovers in people's consideration."
Motor Trend conducts road tests on each vehicle and judges vehicles in six categories: design advancement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

New Transit Connect---Metro Ford's Mobile Advertising Delivery Van!

Metro Ford Lincoln Mercury has introduced the first mobile advertising billboard on a delivery van by a Ford dealership in Miami. The Transit Connect was recently introduced by Ford as the perfect solution for small businesses which require a compact and economical means of transportation to deliver goods. Metro Ford LM commissioned Metro Signs of Hollywood, Fla. to produce the 3M wrap. The design was created by Martin Advertising of Miami. It features 3D graphics of the three brands that the dealership represents. The Metro Ford LM van will be making the rounds all over Dade and Broward attracting eyeballs wherever it goes.

New Ford 6.7L Diesel Engine!

A new era in Ford diesel technology arrives with the Ford-engineered, Ford-tested and Ford-manufactured 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine.

Debuting in the next-generation F-Series Super Duty truck, the new diesel engine will deliver significant improvements in torque, horsepower and fuel economy while adding more fueling flexibility and easily meeting stringent new emissions requirements.

The new diesel 6.7-liter engine also shares the Super Duty’s legendary reliability and durability while delivering best-in-class towing and payload.

“This all-new diesel engine has been so extensively tested both in the lab and in the real world that we’re confident we’re giving our customers the most reliable and productive powertrain available today,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. “Our Super Duty customers demand reliability and durability in their trucks so they can deliver the best results for their business and their customers. That’s exactly what this engine delivers.”

The diesel engine team made improvements and changes throughout the engine architecture to deliver on aggressive horsepower, torque, emissions and fuel economy targets. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke uses an “inboard exhaust” architecture, an automotive-industry first for a modern production diesel engine. It combines the best of proven technology with new, patented approaches backed by an extensive laboratory and real-world testing regimen to assure customer satisfaction.

Benefits of the new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine include:

* First use of a compacted graphite iron (CGI) engine block in a Super Duty-class vehicle in North America; stronger than cast iron, Ford has successfully used CGI in engine blocks in products around the world. The block structure was optimized for reduced weight and maximum strength to meet the demands of higher torque and horsepower

* Unique inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture, an automotive-industry first for a modern production diesel engine, reduces overall exhaust system volume, which leads to better throttle response for the customer; additionally, reduced exhaust system surface area minimizes heat transfer to the engine compartment and improves NVH (noise, vibration, harshness)

* The new engine architecture enables easier service work for all major engine components, potentially reducing down time. On turbocharger service, for example, the body/cab no longer has to be removed from the frame to access the turbo; also, the high-pressure fuel pump, EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) components and thermostats are directly accessible from the front of the vehicle

* Honeywell’s single-sequential turbocharger features an industry-first double-sided compressor wheel mounted on a single shaft. The unit is uniquely center-mounted on a pedestal low in the back of the valley for improved NVH. This turbocharger design allows the single unit to deliver the benefits of a twin-turbocharger system in a smaller, more efficient package, combining the benefits of a small turbocharger (faster response) and a large turbocharger (ability to compress and force more air into the engine for more power) in one unit

* The high-pressure Bosch fuel system injects fuel at more than 29,000 psi. The system delivers up to five injection events per cylinder per cycle using eight-hole piezo injectors to spray fuel into the piston bowl. The direct-injection system is calibrated and phased for optimum power, fuel efficiency and NVH

* Aluminum cylinder heads for reduced weight; the mid-deck construction with dual water jackets provides increased strength and optimal cooling; also, six head bolts, instead of four as found on other engines, help improve sealing and maintain cylinder integrity even with the higher firing pressures; overall the engine is about 160 pounds lighter

* Compatible up to B20 fuel, allowing greener fueling options of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel

2010 Ford Taurs SHO!

Ford Taurus SHO 2010

You saw it here first. Now it's official, the Ford Taurus SHO is back. The new Super High Output's equipped with a twin-turbocharged 365 HP Ecoboost V6 to turn this $37,995 sedan up to eleven.Sometimes people deserve to have their loyalty rewarded, the 2010 Taurus SHO is one of those rewards. It has been a hard few years for Ford fan-boys, testing their belief in the Taurus nameplate without a Super High Output brand. Two successively uninspiring models led to the retirement of the Taurus name, and a third wore the name after an uncomfortable resurrection. The newly-redesigned Taurus is a product wearing the badge in much the same way as the original, a jaw-dropping entry at a critical moment for the company.

The new SHO boasts the highest level of tune so far announced for the Ecoboost V6 — 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque, going above and beyond the previously rated 355 HP in the 2010 Ford Flex and 2010 Lincoln MKS. The more important part of those power figures is where it comes in at, with peak torque starting from 1500 RPM and topping out at 3500 RPM. Shoot, that's almost in diesel territory. Ford isn't being bashful about this new SHO either, boldly claiming the Taurus SHO will outperform the BMW 550i while returning 25 MPG on the highway and coming in at a reasonable $37,995 price. Those are certainly fightin' words.

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New Lincoln MKT SUV Parks Itself!

Social Media South Florida Presentation, Part 2!

Social Media South Florida Presentation, Part 1!

2011 Fiesta makes entrance at Social Media Club of Florida meeting.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Mustang Rally In Germany!

The SVT Ford Raptor Has Arrived!

With a look born in the desert, the new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Web page is a place enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the experience of driving a truck built to excel in the most extreme conditions. Launching today, the new Web page – www.fordvehicles.com/f150raptor – highlights the expansive features of Ford’s new high-performance off-road truck.

“We wanted to ensure the site is true to what Raptor is, emphasizing it as different and unique,” said Eric Peterson, Ford's Truck and SUV communications manager. “Delivering Raptor’s unique durability and performance is something only Ford can do, staying true to both our tough truck and racing heritage. We wanted to make that clear through the site.”

Unique Web Site Content
Unique applications on the site, like a 360-degree view, give consumers a thorough perspective of the truck and allow them to get a closer look at the features and functions that make it such a capable off-road vehicle. By clicking over components unique to the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, such as front shocks, engine, design cues and tires and wheels, visitors can learn more about what gives the truck its distinct personality.

Visitors also will get to see the truck in action, with videos demonstrating its capability in extreme terrain. One video showcases Raptor R, the racing version of the production Ford F-150 SVT Raptor developed by SVT and Ford Racing, by highlighting clips and interviews with key players from its successful racing debut at the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

In addition to the 360 view and videos, information and photos about the F-150 SVT Raptor will enhance the site. But these aren’t glamour shots. These are Raptors in action.

“There are not a lot of pristine photos. People will see mud and dirt on it, doing the things only the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor can do,” said Peterson. “Most websites have beauty shots, but we show how the truck is actually used.”

Visitors to the Web site also can request a customized brochure or build an F-150 SVT Raptor with the content they desire.

Experience a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Ride
A high-end driving simulator also is bringing consumers closer to experiencing Raptor in its element – racing across the desert. Touring auto shows across the country, the simulator pivots on four axes: tipping forward, backward, moving side-to-side and going up and down, with the ability to spin 180 degrees. Actual engine recordings from the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R race truck enhance the experience, while bumps and jolts when the driver goes off-course ensure a realistic ride

Designed using off-road footage, the race course and the desert landscape are projected on a screen in front of the driver. The course gives three unique experiences: a close course with tight turns, a rocky area and an open desert area with tracks to follow.

“If we can’t put people in a Raptor at an auto show, we can put them in the next best thing so they can see what it’s like,” said Brian Bell, Ford's F-150 consumer marketing manager. “We want people to understand the unique capability of this truck, that it can do things that other trucks just can’t.”

Fiesta Movement Takes The U.S. By Storm! 100 Agents On The Loose!

Peter Horbury - MKS Design

Stergeron of the Men’s lifestyle blog, Ploomy, jumped at the opportunity to test drive a Lincoln MKS because he wanted to see first-hand what the American auto industry had to offer during these tough economic times. His drive in the Lincoln MKS exceeded his expectations, surprised a few of his co-workers and renewed his hope that the American auto industry will turn around.

“After the car was dropped off, I asked a couple people in the office to come check out the MKS. Both were impressed with the stance of the car. “It looks mean. Look at that grill, it’s a BEAST”, said one of them. The other said, “Wow, it’s not what I expected.” Read into those comments all you want, but I was equally impressed when I first saw the MKS.”

You can read a more in-depth account over at Ploomy and view some cool photos of the MKS. http://www.ploomy.com/2009/05/12/2009-lincoln-mks-review/

Park Assist---New Technology to Help You Park Your Car!

It's an everyday maneuver that can add stress and elevate blood pressure in novice and veteran drivers alike. It's parallel parking.

Active Park Assist, an all-new driver aide technology available in the distinctive new 2010 Lincoln MKT three-row luxury crossover vehicle, will address the "top 10" anxieties in the parallel parking process. They are:

How it Works
At the push of a single button on the Lincoln MKT center console, Active Park Assist initiates the parallel parking process.

Once the system is activated it begins scanning for an appropriate parking spot, eliminating anxiety number one. When a suitable space is detected an audible signal will sound and the cluster-mounted message center will display a space found notification.

Active Park Assist will coach the driver with a prompt when to stop, shift to reverse and let the system take over. Anxiety number two is eliminated as the system will not select an inappropriately sized space.

Anxieties numbers three and four are eliminated as Active Park Assist will calculate the appropriate trajectory, regardless of the distance between the Lincoln MKT and the vehicle parked in the space just ahead. Furthermore, the trajectory determined by the system will properly place the vehicle in the selected space.

Anxieties five through eight are addressed by Active Park Assist with the calculated trajectory, or the "cut it" element of the parallel parking maneuver. All steering is performed by the system, so the driver only needs to brake. Active Park Assist also properly positions the Lincoln MKT relative to the curb.

Anxiety number nine is addressed with coaching messages. If the vehicle is not positioned properly in the space, the system will continue to coach the driver for proper placement. The driver will shift and brake normally, but the system steers the vehicle throughout the maneuver.

Anxiety number ten is addressed by the system as Active Park Assist will park the vehicle swiftly and surely, every time. System accuracy will position the MKT properly, and embarrassment is thankfully avoided.

Active Park Assist is enabled by Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) which is standard on 2010 Ford vehicles equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6.

Active Park Assist is optional on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 equipped Lincoln MKT, on sale at Lincoln dealerships, late this summer.

Ford Introduces MyKey Technology at Metro Ford!

Ford Motor Company is introducing an innovative new technology – called MyKey – designed to help parents encourage their teen-agers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety-belt usage.
Ford’s MyKey feature – which this summer as standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle’s top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.
“Ford not only offers industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems, we also are committed to developing new technologies such as MyKey that encourage safer driving behavior,” said Susan Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “MyKey can help promote safer driving, particularly among teens, by encouraging seat belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions.”
MyKey is appealing to parents of teen drivers, including 75 percent who like the speed-limiting feature, 72 percent who like the more insistent safety-belt reminder, and 63 percent who like the audio limit feature, according to a recent Harris Interactive Survey conducted for Ford.
About 50 percent of those who would consider purchasing MyKey also said they would allow their children to use the family vehicle more often if it were equipped with the new technology. The added seat time can help teens build their driving skills in a more controlled setting, complementing graduated licensing laws that give young drivers more driving freedom as they get older.
More than half of parents surveyed worry that their teen-age children are driving at unsafe speeds, talking on hand-held cell phones or texting while driving, or otherwise driving distracted. More than a third of parents also are concerned that their teens do not always buckle their safety belts when driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens are more likely to take risks such as speeding – a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes. Teens also are less likely to wear safety belts than older drivers.
Teens surveyed by Harris said they are largely open to MyKey if it means they will have more freedom to drive. Initially, 67 percent of teens polled said they wouldn’t want MyKey features. However, if using MyKey would lead to greater driving privileges, only 36 percent would object to the technology.
“We’ve upgraded an existing, proven technology – the SecuriLock passive anti-theft system – with some simple software upgrades to develop a new unique feature that we believe will resonate with customers,” said Jim Buczkowski, director, Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering – the same team that developed SYNC in partnership with Microsoft. “We also developed MyKey’s functions in such a way to quickly spread it across multiple vehicle lines, giving us the ability to go mass market in the spirit of other Ford innovations such as safety belts, stability control and SYNC.”

Ford begins production of EcoBoost engines!

CLEVELAND, May 19, 2009 – Ford Motor Company today marked the start of production of its advanced fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 – a key step in Ford’s plan to deliver leading fuel economy across millions of vehicles.

Ford invested $55 million to retool and reopen the plant, which had been idled in 2007. Approximately 250 employees are returning to the plant to build the new engines.

EcoBoost technology combines turbocharging and direct gasoline injection to deliver up to 20 percent improved fuel economy, 15 percent fewer CO2 emissions and superior driving performance compared with larger displacement engines. The “downsize and boost” strategy provides consumers better fuel economy without sacrificing the power they want for driving performance.

“This launch of the first EcoBoost engine is a significant milestone in Ford’s overall commitment to deliver affordable fuel efficiency for millions,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “We’ve spent the past two years developing EcoBoost technology and now our customers will finally have the opportunity to experience what this engine delivers, the power of a V-8 with the fuel economy of a V-6.”

Edmunds.com Review of 2010 Mustang!

Jay Leno Excited Over 2010 Fusion Hybrid!

2010 Mustang Car & Driver Review!

Hot Mustang--A Sensation in Germany!

Metro Ford customer, Reed Markel, sent us this photo of his beautiful bright orange 2008 Mustang which he purchased last year. He says the car is a sensation in Europe. In fact, wherever he goes the Mustang draws more attention than the Ferrraris and Lambos of the jet-set. Reed lives in Grosswallstadt, a small town(5,000 people) in northern Bavaria in Germany.


Reed contracted US Cars24(www.uscars24.com) to do the Mustang's homologation according to the European standards.

The Making of the 2010 Ford Mustang!

Transit Connect Rocks!

Coming Soon! Ford Transit Connect: Fun, Practical and Electric!

Fiesta Movement Agents Named!

DEARBORN, Mich., April 7, 2009 – They are witty, irreverent and adventurous. They’re technologically adept, socially outgoing and more than happy to share their opinions on all sorts of topics through social media outlets ranging from Facebook to Twitter to YouTube.

They are Ford’s newest agents of change – the chosen participants in the company’s new Fiesta Movement, a platform designed to generate excitement about the highly anticipated Ford Fiesta, the new fuel-efficient small car that brings its style and substance to the U.S. next year.

As part of social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters will test drive and “live” with a Fiesta for six months, traveling as “agents” on special “missions,” who will then relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.

The missions are designed to be fun, take the agents to new places and let them experience new things – all while driving the new European Ford Fiesta and providing feedback to Ford on the product.

The Fiesta Movement deliberately takes Ford into the realm of the ever-expanding social media Web. Social media has proved to be successful for Fiesta even before its official start. More than 4,000 applications were submitted, with an excess of 640,000 views of applicant videos on YouTube. The Ford Fiesta also is gaining attention on Facebook and Twitter, with more than 300 fans on the Fiesta Movement Facebook fan page and more than 600 followers on the @FordFiesta Twitter account.

“We got a tremendous response from consumers, a lot of exciting people decided to apply,” said Sam De La Garza, small car marketing manager. “Choosing the 100 agents is a critical step in the movement, pulling us one step closer to getting people in the vehicles.”

The Fiesta Movement campaign is squarely aimed at Millennials, the next-generation consumer group born between 1979 and 1995. These consumers, which will total 70 million drivers by 2010, use social media daily and offer a prime opportunity for Ford to tap into a group that hasn’t yet established brand loyalty. According to statistics from a Microsoft study on Millennials, each day 77 percent use Facebook, MySpace or other social networking sites and 28 percent access a personal blog.

Ford's Advantage Plan!

2010 Fusion Hybrid Meets the Media!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The University of Miami sponsored yesterday an event to introduce the most efficient Hybrid vehicle in the market: the 2010 Ford Fusion.

The Ford Fusion has been acclaimed by several publications, including USA Today, as the best hybrid yet. It outperforms the Toyota Camry by 8 miles per gallon. It has a city rating of 41 mpg and highway of 36 mpg. It can cruise up to 47 mph on electric power alone.

It is a totally different driving experience: amazingly quiet and practically shiftless, there is no sensation of shifting gears at all.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid will have a very affordable base price of $27,995. A $1700 tax credit will be available to consumers.

The making of the 100 Fiesta Movement cars!

Great video of the actual making of the 100 Ford Fiestas brought to the US from Germany...100 lucky Fiesta Movement drivers will get to drive them free!

Shelby Autos Ramps Up Production of Super Snakes and Terlingua Racing Team Cars in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS – March 20, 2009 – With the final production of Ford Shelby GT500KR’s finished, Shelby Automobiles, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., (CSBI.PK) has ramped up production of the Super Snake GT500 and Terlingua Racing Team V6 Ford Mustang post title packages in Las Vegas. The switch to production of the post title packages, which are available for 2005 – 2009 Ford Mustangs and Shelby GT500’s, will allow Shelby Automotibles to deliver up to 50 cars per week begining April 6, 2009.

The Latest American Idol Ford Video!

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid TV Ad!

The all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now officially America’s most fuel efficient mid-size car with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

The 2010 Ford Fusion’s final fuel economy certification was completed this week at Ford’s testing laboratories in Allen Park, Mich., and the vehicle will carry an EPA label of 41 mpg for city driving and 36 mpg on the highway when it goes on sale this spring. The Fusion Hybrid, which beats even the much smaller Honda Civic hybrid by 1 mpg in city driving, can travel more than 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

To deliver the class leading fuel economy performance, Ford’s engineers spent the past three years developing in-house the vehicle’s next-generation hybrid propulsion system. It allows the Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid to travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, faster than the Toyota Camry and all other hybrids currently on the road. In addition, the system’s Advanced Intake Variable Cam Timing allows the Fusion and Milan hybrids to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa.

“The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to run at a much higher speed in electric mode allows drivers to maximize fuel efficiently in many driving situations,” said Praveen Cherian, Fusion Hybrid program leader. “For example, this would allow drivers to travel around their subdivision and parking areas in all-electric mode."

2010 Harley-Davidson F-150!

CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 delivers a new standard of “custom cool,” combining the smooth handling and legendary durability of America’s best-selling truck with the authentic styling of Harley-Davidson, the industry leader in motorcycles.

This marks the 14th Harley-Davidson edition of an F-Series truck and latest in a line of Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series models dating back to 2000, which aim to appeal to customers who appreciate quality and unique details only this kind of collaboration can bring.

“Our successful co-branding, unmatched in the industry, offers customers true specialized truck luxury,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “Just like with our other associations, we’ve linked with an industry leader to offer the best
of the best.”

The successful collaboration between these two icons of the open road has produced eight F-150 models, as well as six Super Duty F-250, F-350, and in 2009, the first Harley-Davidson F-450 edition truck. The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 is the first Harley-Davidson edition vehicle built off the award-winning new 2009 Ford F-150.

“This truck builds on the legacy of toughness that’s been the hallmark of the Ford F-Series brand,” said Matt O’Leary, chief engineer. “Now we’re giving customers more of everything they love with the best F-150 and the boldest Harley-Davidson F-150 ever – featuring a fully differentiated design, all-wheel-drive capability, 22-inch wheels and a knock-out interior.”

The exterior of the 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 offers a bold front fascia and six-bar shaped billet style grille and boasts specialized forged aluminum and Harley-Davidson® chrome badging. The truck will have a lowered appearance because of a fully integrated deployable running board.

Also standard are 22-inch low-profile performance tires – the largest in the F-Series lineup –
and Euroflange forged wheels with a polished and painted center wheel cap. The paint selection is classic Harley-Davidson – Tuxedo Black and the first Ford application of Lava, a deep maroon with three-color metal flake.

The interior is customized to appeal to the truck buyer who appreciates the attention to detail for which both Ford and Harley-Davidson are renowned.

Coming: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO!

In 1989, soon after redefining the American sedan segment, Ford gave the Taurus a high-performance upgrade with a Super-High Output (SHO) edition. It proved a favorite among discriminating drivers, who bought more than 100,000, started a popular fan club, and clamored for its return after production ceased in 1999. Now, they have their wish: Ford has unveiled the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO at the Chicago Auto Show, offering a powerful complement to the sensational, revamped Taurus that debuted last month.

“We had so many enthusiasts that were so outspoken and so passionate. We had to listen,” says Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president of Marketing and Communications. To a crowd of 26 SHO fans who had gathered in Chicago from all over the country for the event, he said “Thank you for your loyalty … and your patience.”

The SHO upgrades the 2010 Taurus thanks in large part to a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. It’s the most powerful EcoBoost engine, relying on twin turbochargers and direct injection to deliver 365 hp and 350 ft.-lb. of torque. Efficient engineering brings V-8 robustness to the Taurus without sacrificing V-6 fuel economy.


This power boost calls for even more refined control. On the new SHO, steering-wheel–mounted SelectShift paddles allow drivers who want full sway over the car’s operation to switch from automatic to manual mode — a convenient, intuitive way to master the new engine. These paddles feature “match-rev” downshifts, supporting smooth transitions between upward and downward shifts. All-wheel drive encourages this superior performance under diverse road conditions.

Drivers who really want the most out of the new Taurus can opt for an SHO Performance Package, with upgraded brake pads, recalibrated EPAS for greater responsiveness, a “sport” mode to complement the standard AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, and a shorter 3.16 to 1 final drive ratio for faster acceleration. For good measure, summer-compound Goodyear Eagle F1 performance tires give the Taurus SHO’s 19-inch wheels a powerful grip.
Sharp eyes will notice a few subtle differences between the SHO and the standard 2010 Ford Taurus: a decklid-mounted spoiler, twin chrome exhaust tips, and unique parking-lamp bezels. And the interior is accented with leather-trimmed seats, a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum-trimmed accelerator and brake pedals, and SHO-branded console, instrument, and door panels.

Built in Ford’s Chicago assembly plant, the 2010 Taurus SHO hits dealerships this summer, starting at $37,995.

Shelby Super Snake Auctioned On Ebay For Charity!

See it on Ebay!
The Ultimate Shelby 427 GT500 Package: A 2009 Shelby GT500 upgraded with the Super Snake package and #427 of the Limited Edition Shelby 427 packages for the Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang, VIP passes for two to the Shelby 427 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, hotel accommodations at the Monte Carlo Casino and Resort, a meet and greet with Carroll Shelby, private suite access to watch the race, a Shelby GT hood signed by Carroll Shelby and participating NASCAR drivers, a private tour of the Shelby factory and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Since its inception in 1998, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been run at a length of 400.5 miles, which is 267 laps around the 1.5-mile oval. This year’s special event to be held March 1, 2009 will be lengthened to 427 miles and will be called the “Shelby 427.”

"We are ecstatic to have the legendary Shelby name on our 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to give added exposure to the Shelby brand that has, over the years, become synonymous with the best in high-performance cars.” ~ Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell

In conjunction with the race this special charity auction is being held with all of the proceeds going to benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation.

2010 Roush Mustang!

2008 Roush Mustang, like-new, only 752 miles. Available at Metro Ford: $35,995.

A Classic: '69 Ford Mustang Mach 1---428 Cobra-Jet!

This beautiful '69 Mustang Mach 1 was purchased in December 2007 by Lazaro Carbajal, President of Dana Importers(www.danaimporters.com), importers of unique high-end wine and spirits.

When he bought it, the car had just gone through a complete frame off-restoration and complete # matching. The engine, the famous 428 Cobra-jet, also was numbers-matched.

The Mustang also has its original 3.50 traction-lock and the 4-speed top-loader transmission with the Hurst shifter. All of this was verified by the Marti Report.

• Complete # matching ( all power train on vehicle is the original one that came with it, completely rebuilt, engine rear-end, trans. This adds value to classic cars ! ).
• Complete frame-off restoration ( the whole frame was taken off the vehicle and everything was completely re-done from the chassis up. The under-side of the car was also new. Every nut and bolt on this vehicle was completely replaced. Restoration process took around 2 years).
• Engine being numbers match ( this was the original engine that the car left the factory with in 1969. It was taken apart and completely overhauled ).
• Marti report ( in the classic cars world this report is very valuable to have because it is obtained from the factory records verifying vehicle number and options that came originally with the car. Also exact production date and plant where the vehicle was produced. This also verifies that the VIN number on vehicle matches with everything).

Check out WheelHQ.com and their large selection of Bullitt Wheels.

Ford Transit Connect---Coming Soon To America!

Ford is tapping its global product strengths to mobilize and connect small business owners in North America with the European-engineered Ford Transit Connect.

“Ford Transit Connect is built on a dedicated, commercial vehicle platform to meet the rigors business use demands. This workhorse is like nothing available today in the American market,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. “The Transit Connect provides another example of Ford’s commitment to deliver 100 percent new or upgraded products that people truly want and value by the end of 2010,” he said.

With its standard, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers fuel economy estimated at 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

Transit Connect will be a truly white-space product for North America. Its closest competitors are cargo vans offered by Chevrolet and Dodge. Transit Connect will provide a significant city fuel economy advantage, while offering more cargo space. Both are increasingly important to small business owners in today’s changing marketplace.

Check out WheelHQ.com and their large selection of Cobra Wheels.

Ford Battery Electric Vehicle(BEV) Coming Soon!

Ford is already putting into effect a major element of its vehicle electrification strategy with its strategic alliance with auto supplier Magna International to produce new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that don’t use a drop of fuel.

The vehicle-development partnership between Ford and Magna, a global auto supplier headquartered in Canada, was announced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, as Ford unveiled its global vehicle electrification strategy.

A pure BEV passenger car developed jointly with Magna to reach customers by 2011 is one piece of Ford’s strategy to bring BEVs, a plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles to market by 2012.

“Magna is a world-class automotive supplier that’s an ideal partner for our BEV,” says Nancy Gioia, Ford director of Sustainable Mobility Technology. “Our strategy absolutely depends on forging alliances with key suppliers whose expertise complements our extensive experience and global production capabilities. Developing these new technologies requires a major investment, so it’s especially important to have strong supplier alliances.”

Gioia explained that Ford’s global vehicle platforms provide an ideal stage for Magna-engineered BEV components and systems. Ford’s customer insight – especially its experience with hybrid electric vehicles and specialized electric vehicles – dovetails with Magna’s system-development expertise to deliver a world-class product.

2010 LINCOLN MKT!

Lincoln MKT, a distinctive new premium crossover, will be available in late summer 2009 with a long list of standard comfort, convenience and technology features that make it an exceptional value.

Starting at $44,995 for the front-wheel-drive model, the three-row Lincoln MKT brings to the luxury market standard luxury features, quality interior appointments and design, class-leading fuel economy and a distinctive new exterior that embodies a fresh interpretation of Lincoln design DNA.
Similar to the flagship Lincoln MKS sedan, the new three-row Lincoln will offer customers an enticing mix of inviting luxury and useful technology. The base model will come well equipped, with a list of standard features that include:

In addition to a front-wheel drive powertrain, the Lincoln MKT will also be offered with all-wheel-drive. The AWD model with the normally-aspirated, 3.7-liter engine is expected to carry a starting price of $46,990 when it arrives in dealerships this summer. Compared to a similarly priced Acura MDX (the segment leader in sales volume), the Lincoln MKT offers far more interior space, better highway fuel economy and features consumers want, such as adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers, auto high beams and the connectivity of SYNC.

The 2010 Lincoln MKT will be available with a premium, 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost powertrain as well, and all EcoBoost models will be fitted with AWD. The direct-injection, twin-turbo, 355 horsepower engine is expected to deliver not only best-in-class power but also best-in-class highway fuel economy, superior to both the Acura MDX and Audi Q7. The 355-hp Lincoln MKT will have a starting price of $49,995. Acura does not offer a premium engine upgrade in the three-row MDX.
Lincoln MKT buyers looking for more luxury and convenience features can choose the Elite Package, priced at $5000.

2010 LINCOLN MKZ!

Ford At The Detroit Auto Show!